Web feeding and printing mechanism for multiple unit roller type printing machine



Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFQRD 2,925,036

, WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE v UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29. 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 6m s N M u N1 U! N 3 2) I l by I -I-@ l 1 /NVENTOR g EARL ACRAWFQ 0 ar'fl/ E. A. CRAWFORD Feb. 16, 1960 WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIP UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29. 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVE'NTOR EARL AC/PAWFOR 8) W Arrk Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFORD 2,925,036

WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENI'OR EARL A. CRAWFORD ATTK Feb. 16, 1960 E. A. CRAWFORD 2,925,036

WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29. 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ayyL AIR/1%??? Feb. 16, 1960 E. A. CRAWFORD 2,925,036

-WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EARL ACE/4:20? Br WW Arr'k Feb. 16, 1960 E. CRAWFORD 2,925,036

WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29. 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR EARL A. CRAWFORD E. A. CRAWFORD WEB FEEDING AND PRIN Feb. 16, 1960 2,925,036

TING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE ER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE UNIT ROLL Original Filed April 29. 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFORD 2,925,036

WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 16, 1960 RINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed April 29, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 uum WW T; if

INVENTOR 5,491. ACRAWFOR ATT'K F/G. l2.

. E. A. CRAWFORD 2,925,036 WEB FEEDING AND P ,U im States Paten WEB FEEDING AND PRINTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE UNIT ROLLER TYPE PRINTING MACHINE Earl A. Crawford, Warwick, R .I., assignor to Bird &

fan, Itrtlse, East Walpole, Mass., a corporation of Massause Original application April 29, 1953, Serial No. 351,970,

now Patent No. 2,809,582, dated October 15, 1957. Divided and this application December 21, 1956, Serial No. 629,926

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-182) The present invention relates to improvements in a multiple unit roller type printing machine, and more particularly to a web feeding and printing mechanism for the machine.

The invention is hereinafter disclosed in a preferred form as embodied in a multiple unit roller type printing machine for roller printing, coating or otherwise processing a webbed material suitable for use as floor and wall coverings and the like, which is formed from a paper base or similar fibrous web material which may be impregnatedwith asphalt or other material and having a limited stretch characteristic.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel and improved web feeding and printing control mechanism for a machine of the general type herein dis closed which may be readily controlled by the operator to disengage any selected one or more of the roller printing units, or alternatively to disengage all of the roller feed elements of the machine to arrest the feed of the web without stopping or otherwise interfering with the operation of the several printing units.

In a machine of the general type disclosed in which rapidly drying inks are applied to a web traveling at speeds which may be in the vicinity of 200 or more feet per minute, it is of very considerable importance to avoid any interruption of the flow of ink to and the removal of excess ink from, the gravure roller.

The present application is a division of applicants co- :pending application Serial No. 351,970, filed April 29,

1953, and issued as Patent No. 2,809,582, dated October 15, 1957, for Machine and Method for Processing Webs of Paper Base and Similar Materials.

With the above and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the several features of the invention convention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the printing machine shown in i Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the draw-in unit looking from the right hand end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation of the torque motor .drive for producing a drag on the feeding web, shown in Fig. 3, looking from the front of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a view of the torque motor drive, shown in Fig. 4, looking from the left;

i Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the draw-in unit look- :ing from the front side of the machine, but with the torque motor, for driving the differential tensioning device, omitted;

ice

Fig. 6A is a view in elevation of the second printing unitlooking from the front side of the machine;

. Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the draw-off unit looklng from the rear side of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the first printing unit looking from the right hand end of the machine;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed view in elevation lookmg from the front of the machine of the carriage associated with the first printing unit;

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation looking from the right hand end of the machine of a second printing unit;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections for controlling the solenoid operated air valves by means of which the drive support rollers associated with the several units of the machine are moved into and out of operative position;

Fig. 12 is a single line diagram of the torque motor drive for producing a drag on the web extending through the draw-in and draw-ofi units; and

Fig. 13 is a supplementary diagram view of the electrical controls for the torque motor.

Referring to the drawings the multiple impression printing machine'herein disclosed as embodying in a preferred form the several features of the invention comprises a web draw-in unit generally designated at A in Fig. 1 having a drive support roller and a cooperating pressure roller, a first roller printing unit designated at B, an associated drying oven C, a second roller printing unit D, an associated drying oven E, and a web draw-out unit, generally indicated at F, comprising a drive support roller and a cooperating pressure draw-off roller. These units are constructed and arranged to cause a web of material to be processed, which in the preferred form of the invention is floor covering material, to pass through the several units in a straight line run.

The several operating units of the machine referred to are driven in synchronism with one another by means of a torque shaft 30 which runs along the full length of the machine at the rear side adjacent the floor level, and is connected through individual reduction gear boxes with each of the separate units. tinuously driven from any convenient source of power which may be an electric motor not shown.

Draw-in unit The web draw-in unit A, above referred to, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6 comprises a front standard 36, and a rear standard 38 supported on a base member 39 and rigidly connected by a spacer member 40. The standards provide support for two vertically slidable bearing blocks 42, 44 for a drive support roller 46. The standards also provide support for two bearing blocks, 48, 50 (Figs. 3 and 6) for a pressure roller 52 which forms the upper roller of the pair. The drive support roller 46 is driven from the torque shaft 30 through a gear box 54, and a drive shaft 56 which extends from the rear to the front side of the machine slightly above the level of the base member 39. At its forward end the shaft 56 is provided with a bevel gear 53 which meshes with a bevel gear 60 forming the driving element of a differential gear unit generally indicated 62, and is secured to a vertically disposed drive shaft 64 of said unit. The elements of the differential unit also include a bevel gear 66 which is secured to the shaft 64 and is connected by two idler bevel gears 68 with a driven bevel gear 70 mounted on a driven sleeve 72 in vertical alignment with the drive shaft 64. A bevel gear 74 keyed to turn with and slidable axially on the sleeve 72 meshes with a large bevel gear 76 which is mounted to turn as a unit with the drive support roller 46. A lug 79 formed integrally with hearing block 42 engages beneath and supports the bevel 74 in mesh with The torque shaft 30 is con-.

gear '76 'for anyvertie'al adjustment of the bearing blocks 42, 44 and driving support roller '46. The control 'element of the differential gear unit comprises an upwardly extending control shaft 80 which is mounted above and in axial alignment with the drive shaft 64 and "which extends upwardly through an axial bore in the driven bevel gear 70 and sleeve member 72. At its lower end the shaft 80 is provided with a transverse bearing pin 82 on opposite ends of which are mounted the idler bevel gears 68 of the differential unit. With this arrangement it will be understood that rotation of the control shaft 80, causing the idler bevel gears 69 to rotate about the axis of the driving and driven bevels "66 and 70 has the effect of changing the angular relation of the driving roller 46 to the main driving connections including torque shaft 30. Thus a continuous rotation of the control shaft 8%) of the differential gear unit in one direction will cause the driving roller 46 and associated pressure roller 52 to be continuously driven at a slower rate than that which would normally beimposed thereon by the main driving connections including torque shaft30.

In accordance with the invention a torque driving motor is employed in combination with the differential driving connection above described to produce a regulated retarding tension, or drag upon that portion of the webbed material, passing between the draw-in rollers 46, 52 and the draw-ofi? rollers 152, 154. The amount of drag, which is in effect a braking force exerted on the traveling web is readily controlled by well known electrical means for adjusting the driving torque of the torque motor unit.

The mechanism for producing a tensioning drag on the webbed materials specifically shown in Figs. 3, 4, and comprises an electric torque motor 84 mounted on a bracket 86 on the front standard 36 of the draw-in unit A. The motor unit includes a transversely extending jack shaft 8% which is driven by means of reduction gearing from the armature shaft of the motor 34. A sprocket 99 on the shaft 88 is connected by a sprocket chain 92 with a sprocket 94 on a work shaft 96 which is in turn connected through a worm and gear connection 98 with the upper end of the differential gear unit control shaft St The torque motor unit operating through the differential gear unit as above described is employed to impose a drag on the webbed material being drawn thnough the printing machine.

An individual manual adjustment is provided for each of the bearing blocks 4%, 51) to control the position of the pressure roller 52 with relation to the drive support roller d6. Vertical adjustment of each of the blocks 48, 50 is effected by means of a rotatable sleeve element 104) which is externally threaded to a nut 102 fixedly supported on the respective front and rear standards. The sleeve element 1% is supported to turn on an upwardly extending shaft 154 secured at its lower end to the bearing block. A manually adjustable hand wheel 1.96 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve. A locking nut in the form of a second hand wheel 168 is threaded to the sleeve above the nut M2.

in accordance with the invention the drive support roller 46 together with the drive support rollers for each of the draw-0E units and the two printing units hereinafter to be described are arranged and supported to "be dropped downwardly out of engagement with the cooperating rollers at the upper side of the traveling strip in order to arrest the feed of the strip without interfering with the continued drive of the several rollers including the elements of the printing units. The mechanism provided for controlling the position of the drive support roller 46 comprises a rock shaft 110 (Fig. 3) whichjextends parallel to and beneath the drive support roller and which is supported in bearing the respectivestandards 36, 38. Adjacent each end, the rock shaft "110 carries a cam member 112 which acts when the shaft is rocked in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front of the machine, to engage against-and raisethe respective bearing blocks 42, 44 and thereby to raise and to lock the drives'upportroller 46. For "controllingthis rocking movement of the rock shaft 110, a pneumatic cylinder 114 is provided which is supported at its lower end on a bracket 116 on the base 39. A piston element 118 extending from the upper end of the cylinder is connected with a lever arm 120 'secured to the rock shaft 119. As indicated in Figs. 3 said cylinder 114 is provided at its lower end with an electric solenoid operated valve which controls the admission and exhaust of air to and from'the cylinder.

Draw-ofi unit The strip draw-off unit F, above referred to, 'as best shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 7, comprises a base on which is mounted a frontst'andard 142 (see Fig. 1) a rear standard 144 (see Fig. 7), and a spacer membergnot specifically shown, by means of which the standards are rigidly secured together. Each standard is provided with a vertically slidable bearing block, not specifically illustrated, for a web draw-off roller 152. A cooperating pressure draw-01f roller 154 is similarly mounted for vertical adjustment in the standards 142, 144 inbearirig blocks 156, supported for vertical movement in guideways formed in the upperpart of the respectiveStandards For effecting this adjustment ea'ch b'earing block 156 is provided with an upwardly extending shaft 159 providing support against axial movement relative thereto for a rotatable sleeve element 160 which is externally threaded to a nut 162 fixedly supported on the standard. A manually adjustable hand wheel 164 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve, and a locknu't 166 "similarly formed with a hand wheel is threaded to the .sleeveabove the nut 162. g

The web'draw-o'lf drive support roller 152 is normally maintained in a relatively raised operating position in engagement with the cooperating pressure roller 154 and is further adapted to be moved from engagement there- 'with to release the web from feeding engagementthe'rewith by a pneumatically operated device'identical with that shown in Fig. 3 for the draw-in unit, and whichyas shown in Fig. 7, includes a rock shaft 168 which extends parallel to and beneath the drive support roller and which is supported in hearings in the respective standards '142, 144. Adjacent each end the rock shaft 168 carries a cam member 170 which acts, whenthe shaft'is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed from the rear of the machine, to engage against and to raise the respective bearing blocks for drive support roller152, and thereby to raise and to lock the drive support roller 15'2'in its raised operative position. For controlling this rocking movement of the rock shaft 168 a pneumatic cylinder 172 is provided which is pivotally supported at its lower end on a bracket 174 on the base140. A piston element 176 extending from the upper end of the cylinder is connected with a lever arm 178 secured to the rock shaft 168. As indicated in Fig. 11 the "cylinder 172 is provided at its lower end with an electric solenoid operated valve 572 which controlsthe admission and exhaust of air to and from the cylinder. I

The draw-off driving and pressure rollers 152, 1'54are driven from the torque shaft '36 of the machinethrou'gh operating connections (see Fig. 7) which include a reduction gear unit 180 having a vertically disposed'output shaft 182 to the upper portion of which is keyed abevel gear 184 which meshes with 'a bevel gear 186 secured to the rear end of the web draw=off driving roller 152. A supportinglug 188 on the bearing block 150 is arranged to maintain the bevel gear 184 in mesh with the gear 186 for any adjustment of the blocks 148, 150.

First roller printing unit The two roller printing units indicated'at B andLD in cess'ive impressions registered "with "relation to "one an? driving roller 212 to its driving position. 'the shaft 236 there is provided a pneumatic cylinder 240 other'to the, webbed material during the run between the draw-in roller unit A and the draw-out unit F are with only slight differencesyhereinafter specifically pointed out,"identical' in construction. Referring specifically to Figs. 8 and 9 inclusive, the first printing unit designated at B' comprises generally a fixed base assembly (see Fig. 8) including a base 200, a front standard 202, a rear standard 204, and a spacer member 206, and a relatively movable upper assembly in the form of a carriage 210 which is supported for forward and back movement transversely of the feeding web on guideways 208 (see Fig. 9) formed in the upper ends of the respective standards 202, 204. The operating parts of the first printing unit include specifically a driving support roller 212 which is mounted beneath the traveling web in the standards .202, 204 and a roller printing mechanism which is supported above the traveling web on the carriage 210. This mechanism comprises a transfer roller 214 mounted on the carriage directly above the driving roller 212, a cooperating gravure roller 216 which is mounted at that side of the transfer roller with the draw-in unit A and slightly above the transfer roller. The transfer roller 214 and gravure roller 216 are maintained at all times in continuous rolling contact in the carriage. An ink reservoir and a doctor blade 220, not specifically shown, alsoare mounted on the carriage 210.

1 The drive for the transfer and gravure rollers 214, 216 of the first printing unit A is taken from the torque shaft 30 through a reduction gear box 222 onto a driving shaft 224 which extends between the rear and front standards 202, 204 slightly above the level of the base 200. A vertically disposed power output shaft 226 from the gear box 222 at the rear side of the machine has splined thereto adjacent its upper end a bevel gear 228 which meshes with a bevel gear 230 secured to the rear endof the driving support roller 212.

A control mechanism is provided, similar to that described in connection with the driving support rollers for thedraw-in and draw-out units, which is operative to move the drive support roller 212 vertically between a raised operative and a low inoperative position. To this end the support roller 212 is supported at each end in bearing blocks 232, which are vertically movable in guideways formed in the respective front and rear standards 202, 204. Vertical movements of the bearing blocks 232 and driving support roller 212 is effected by means of a rock shaft 236 which is mounted from the standards 202, 204 beneath and parallel to the support roller 212.

Toward each end, the shaft 236 has secured thereto a cam 238 which engages beneath the respective bearing blocks 232. Movement of the rock shaft in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front of the machine causes the bearing blocks to be engaged by high portions of the respective cams to raise the support For rocking which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bracket 5241 on the base 200.

A piston 242 extending from the upper end of the cylinder is connected to a laterally extending lever arm 244 secured to the rock shaft 236 for controlling the admission and exhaust of air from the piston.

One of several identical solenoid controlled air valves 572, as shown in Fig. 11, controls the admission and exhaust of air from the cylinder.

The transfer roller 214 and the gravure roller 216 are positively driven at the same linear rate with the drive support roller 212. The drive is taken from the torque shaft 30 and reduction gear box 222 through driving to' turn in a fixedbearing 260 provided in the upper portion of the front standard 202/ A gear "262 (see Fig. 9) secured to the forward end of the transfer roller 214 meshes with the spur gear 258 and also with a gear 264 secured to the forward end of the gravure roller 216. The spur gear 258 is of substantial width so that the transfer roller drive gear 262 will always be meshed with the spur gear 258 irrespective of the transverse adjustment of the carriage 210.

Second printing unit The second printing unit designated at D in Fig. 1, and more specifically shown in Fig. 10 is substantially identical with the printing unit B, previously described, except for the provision of a novel means for securing an accurate register of the impression produced thereby on the traveling sheet of webbing longitudinally as well as laterally with relation to the impression produced on the sheet by the first printing unit B. The second printing unit comprises a base assembly including a base 400, a front standard 402, and a rear standard 404, and an additional spacer member 406 for maintaining these parts rigidly in position. A driving support roller 408 is mounted in the base assembly of the printing unit, being supported in bearing blocks 410 mounted for vertical adjustment in the respective front and rear standards. A control mechanism is provided for shifting the driving support roller 408 between a high operating and a low inoperative position which is similar to that previously described for effecting a similar shift between high and low position-s of the first printing unit drive support roller 212. This mechanism includes a rock shaft 412 having at each end cams for engagement beneath the bearing blocks 410, and a solenoid controlled pneumatic cylinder 414 for controlling the position of the rock shaft.

The second printing unit D further comprises a carriage 416 mounted on guideways on the respective standards for movement transversely of the feeding strip. The carriage provides support for a transfer roller 418 mounted directly above the driving support roller 408 and a cluding a doctor blade, and an ink supply system, not

specifically shown.

The drive support roller 408 for the second printing unit is driven from the torque shaft 30, through a gear box 430 and vertical output shaft 432, having a bevel gear 434 splined thereto for engagement with a bevel gear 436' mounted from the rear end of the drive support roller 408.

The drive for the transfer roller 418 and gravure roller 420 of the second printing unit is taken from the gear box 430 through a horizontally disposed drive shaft 438 to the front side of the machine, and through bevel gears 440, 442 to the input shaft 444 of a vertically disposed differential gear unit 446. The output sleeve member 448, from the unit aligned with the input shaft 444, carries a bevel gear 450 which meshes with a bevel gear 452 formed internally with a large spur gear 454 which in turn meshes with a driving gear 456 secured to the forward end of the transfer roller 418. The gear 456 meshes also with a driving gear 458 on the gravure roller 420.

The differential unit above described is employed to effect an angular adjustment of the second printing unit transfer roller 418 and gravure roller 420 with relation to the driving mechanism for the machine, and thereby to obtain an adjustment of the impression imparted to the feeding web longitudinally thereof.

The illustrated machine is provided with electrical devices under the control of the operator for controlling the operation of the air cylinders above described, by

.7 7 means :of which the several drive, support rollers are lowered and raised.

In accordance with the invention control devices are provided which enable the operator to move the drive support rollers, associated with the several operating units of the machine either as a group or individually, between raised operating and lowered inoperative positions in which they are separated from the cooperating pressure and impression transfer rollers.

The electrical devices provided for controlling the operation of the several air cylinders by means of which the respective driving support rollers are raised and lowered comprise a series of solenoid operated air valves 572 mounted integrally with each of the driving support roller raising and lowering air cylinders 114, 172, 240 and 414. Each solenoid air valve 572 is provided with raise and lower control leads marked respectively as R and L, and an intermediate terminal 574. Each of the terminals 574 is connected to a wire 576 which is connected to a power supply transformer 578. The R terminals are connected respectively by identical wire 580 with one terminal of a manual-automatic control switch 584. *An extension of the R line 580 is connected with a normally opened push button control switch 588 which is in turn connected by a wire 590 with the power supply transformer 578. The drive support roller drop control terminal L, from each of the solenoid actuated valves 572, is connected by means of a wire 592 through a micro-switch 594 with a second terminal 596 of the manual-automatic switch 584, and also with a normally opened lower button control switch 598 which is connected by the wire 590 with the power supply solenoid 573. Since the electrical connections to each of the solenoid operated air valves 572 are identical, the'same reference characters have'been used 'for the designation of these identical parts. Each of the several raise control switches 588 and lower control switches 598 are connected with the power supply transformer by a-wire 600 and wire 590. Gf two remaining terminals 602, 604

associated with each manual-automatic switch 584, the

terminals 602 are connected by wires 605 and 606 to a stop switch 607 which is connected to the power supply line 590 and transformer 578. The terminals 604 are connected by means of wires 608 and 610, and a forward I switch 612 to the power line 590 from the power supply "automatic switch button 612 causes all the R solenoid contacts to be energized shifting'the air valves 572 to the iratse position in which air is admitted to the several air cylinders 114, 172, 240 and 414 thus raising the several driving support rollers to operative position to feed the web through the machine. The several cylinder pistons, upon reaching the limit of their upward movement, CH? gage with and close the respective micro-switches 594 so that the electrical circuit including the .drive vsupport roller drop control terminals maybe energized by the actuation of either the automatic manual stop. switch 607 or the individual stop switch. 598.

In order to stop the feed of the web the operator presses the Stop button 607 causing the L contacts oftthe several solenoid controlled air valves 572 to be energized to condition the respective air valves to exhaust air from the respective air cylinders 114, .172, 240, 414. The downwardmovement of the pistons causes each of the driving support rollers to be lowered to .its inoperativeposition to arrest the feeding andprinting operations without interference with thecontinued drive ofthedrive support rollers, :and ,printing unitrollers.

The arrangement above described forsstopping the .feed of the web providesa convenient means available to the operator for stopping the machine with a minimum of disruption to the machine operation. The continued drive of the gravure and transferrollers of the printing units, although the advance of the web ,is stopped,,has .the advantage that a continuous circulation and flow of ink through the printing unit is maintained which avoids any possibility that the ink will tendto dry or harden on the rollers.

Whenever one of the manual-automatic switches 584 is shifted to its open position the associated solenoid control air valve 572 is operatively disconnected from the automatic switch control buttons 612, 616 and remains under the individual control of the manual forward and reverse buttons 588, 598 which will now control the movement of the drive support roller ,ofsaid machine unit to and from its operative position. In the event that one of the printing units, as ,for example the first printing unit-B, is to be rendered inoperative in thislmanner while a printing or lacquering operation-is being carried on only bythe second printing unit D,-the manualautomatic switch 584 associated with the first printing unit is moved to the open ,position as .shown, andthe reverse button 598 associated with the firstiunit is pressed causing the L contact of the solenoid air valve 572 to be energized thereby exhausting .air from the air cylinder 240 and causing the drive support roller 212 to be moved downwardly-to its inoperative position.

The individual controls for moving the respective drive support rollers betweenraised .operativeand lowered inoperative positions have-been ,found useful also ,to condition the machine for various operations, as for the adjustment of the several rollers ofthe respective machine units when themachine is stopped, and for straightening any portion of the web which may have gotten out of line. The printingunits maybe rendered inoperative individually to avoid printing over defective or uneven portions of the web which might cause injury to the transfer roller surface.

The operation of the torque .motor unit .84 to retard the rotation of the draw-in pressure and drive support rollers in order to tension the feeding web will be. readily understood .from an inspection of the electrical diagram of Figs. 12 and 13, of which. Fig. 12 is a single'linediagram of the electrical operatingconnections and Fig. -,1-.3 is a complementary-diagram showing the positions of the several elements including the control switches and the supporting panels. Referringto Figs. l2.and .13 the torque motor 84 is shown having an armature'620, a.

commutator field 622 anda shuntv field 624. The speed or torque of the motor is. determinedby the adjustment of a speed control 626 having a rheostat 628 and an adjustable arm 630 whichtis connectedto the grid .632 of a thyratrontube 634 through-which direct .current is suppliedto the armature and-the commutatorfield winding of the motor. A furtheradjustment of ,the power input is effected by means of a variable speed generator 635 supported in series with the rheostat 628 of the speed control and arranged to be. driven from-the torque shaft 30 of the machine. There is also provided on the same panel with the speed control astartand stop switch,636 for the torque motor :84.

From an inspection 'of the single line diagram of .Fig. 12, it will be noted that a direct current is-supplied-to the armature 620 and commutator :field winding 622 through the thyratron rectifier tube 634 and that:direct current is supplied to the shuntfield 624 througha rectifier tube 638. The arm -630.of the speed control unit is connected with thecontrol element on grid .632 ofthe tube 634 by means of .a wire..6,40.and resistanceelements .of ordinary construction.

The rheostat 628 of thespeed v.controln62'6 is connected to the variable speed generator .635 ,by.a wire .642 and .a suitable resistance .unit. .,The,generator..-635Qis alsoconnected with one of the two line wires indicated at 1. The arrangement of the several elements of the torque motor electrical circuit are such that the power output of the torque motor is held to a constant value which is determined by the setting of the control arm 630, and is further controlled by the rate of drive of the main torque shaft 30 which in turn controls the rate of drive of the generator 635. It is the function of the generator 635 to vary the power output of the torque motor in proportion as the rate of feed of the web through the printing machine is increased or decreased, so that the amount of stretch imposed on the webin accordance with the set ting of control arm 630 will remain constant regardless of the speed at which the machine is driven.

The amount of drag exerted on the traveling web by the torque motor 84 and differential connection in the drive to the draw-in rollers 46, 52 is readily adjusted during machine operation by manual adjustment of the speed regulator hand 630. As the torque is gradually increased any tendency of the web to weave will disappear and the web will be found to be running true along the entire length of the run to the draw-off station. Under these conditions, in which a floor covering material may be an asphalt impregnated felt or paper is passing through the machine a stretch of about A" per linear yard may be present. If the torque is increased beyond the elastic limit of the material it may be noted that the web tends to ripple, followed by separation and breakage of the web.

The invention having been described what is claimed 1. In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials having a limited stretch characteristic, the combination of a web conveyor constructed and arranged to draw the web along a run lying substantially in a horizontal plane between draw-in and draw-ofi stations, a driving support roller supported from the machine for engagement with the underside of the web, and a cooperating pressure roller supported from the machine for engagement against the upper side of the web at each of said stations, at least one printing unit for printing a portion of the web on said run comprising a driving support roller supported from the machine for engagement with the underside of the web, and printing devices including a cooperating impression transfer roller engaging the upper side of the web, means for driving each of said driving support and impression rollers at predetermined linear rates to feed the web, individual bearing supports for the several driving support rollers shiftable between raised web feeding and low inoperative positions, bearing support raising and lowering cams disposed beneath and engaging with said individual bearing supports for each of the several driving support rollers, a rock shaft disposed parallel to each driving support roller and connected at its opposite ends to the associated bearing support cams at the two ends of the associated driving support roller, a laterally extending arm secured to each said rock shaft, and pneumatic cam shift cylinders associated with the several driving support rollers, mounted on the machine and attached to the respective laterally extending arms and means under the control of the operator for selectively operating said pneumatic devices to raise and lower the associated driving support rollers.

2. In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials having a limited stretch characteristic, the combination of a web conveyor con structed and arranged to draw, the web along a run lying substantially in a horizontal plane between draw-in and draw-off stations, a driving support roller supported from the machine for engagement with the underside of the web, and a cooperating pressure roller supported from the machine for engagement with the upper side of the web at each of said stations, at least one printing unit for printing a portion of the web on said run comprising a driving support roller supported from the machine for engagement with the underside of the web, and printing devices including a cooperating impression transfer roller engaging the upper side of the web, bearing supports for the individual driving support rollers shiftable toward and away from the underside of the web, a bearing support raising and lowering cam disposed beneath each of said bearing supports, a rock shaft extending parallel to the driving support roller and connected to each of said bearing support raising and lowering cams, individual fluid ac tuated devices connected to rock each said rock shaft and associated cams for shifting said bearing supports, automatic electrical means under the control of the operator for actuating said fluid actuated devices to simultaneously shift the several driving support rollers from one to the other position, means under the control of the operator for rendering said automatic means operative and inoperative to shift said driving support rollers, and electrically operated devices under the control of the operator for shifting each drive support roller selectively between its raised web engaging position and its low inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 890,162 Munz June 9, 1908 1,460,206 Masland June 26, 1923 1,482,351 Dausmann Jan. 29, 1924 1,996,639 Brunnings Apr. 2, 1935 2,569,034 Auer Sept. 25, 1951 2,598,414 Morse May 27, 1952 2,746,386 Bamford May 22, 1956 

